While Gala apples and Honeycrisp will start at the beginning of September, Ginger Golds could start in just over a week to two weeks and Red Delicious to come in late September. “The fruit is sizing well,” says Cohen. “We don’t know about color yet because we’re not close enough to harvest to determine how color is going to be. But there’ll be plenty of fruit available. I think we’re probably going to have more fruit than last year.”
West Coast influence
Competition though has shifted on apples slightly this year. “The West Coast is ending up early—they’re finishing up their crop a bit early on most varieties,” says Cohen. “We’re expecting a gap in production between now and mid-September, depending on the varieties. But it should provide an opportunity to clear out the pipeline a little bit and create a little demand.”
In turn, considering that potential gap, pricing should be stronger than last year says Cohen. “But it’s still too early to tell,” he says. “We’ll have to see where the market settles before everything starts. Washington will set the pace.”
Pursuing new varieties
Meanwhile apple growers continue to look into new varieties, often in search of the next gangbuster hit apple like the Honeycrisp. “There’s always something interesting going on with new varieties,” says Cohen. Cohen Produce is working with a variety called Sweet Cheeks from Hess Brothers Fruit Co., which should come to market in about two years. “We’ll market some on a limited basis this year and will expand the volume as the volume grows over the next few years. The challenge is getting them into the marketplace, finding shelf space for all of them and how to market them.”
For more information:
Sandy Cohen
Cohen Produce Marketing
Tel: +1-717-571-5800
sandy@cohenproduce.com
http://www.cohenproduce.com/